Listening to Your Body – When do You Need a Break?

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. You might see exercise as a great addition to your lifestyle, but you need breaks from your training, too.  Noam Tamir of TS Fitness New York City explains that your body goes through trauma when you exercise.  So how do you know when to take a break?

• You're constantly sore: delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, is normal. However, you shouldn't feel this all the time. Allow 24-48 hours in between each workout session.
  
• You're always tired: moodiness and tiredness are signs of working out too much. This is because cortisol is produced by exercise. Too much of this can take a toll on your mental health.
  
• You have an abnormal heart rate: check your heart rate regularly. If your resting heart rate is higher than average, then it's not ready for your next workout session yet.
  
• You're always stiff: if you continue to be stiff long after a workout, your body is going to start changing the way it moves naturally. This can become permanent and potentially cause injury.
  
• You've got dark yellow pee: looking at the color of your pee is the easiest way to figure out if you're dehydrated or not. The darker your pee, the more water you need to drink. 
  

Growing Attuned to Your Body for Optimum Health
Because you actually create micro-tears in your muscles when you exercise, they need time to repair, which will help them grow stronger.  The more you exercise, the more you strain your body. If you're not giving your body the breaks it needs, you could be doing more harm than good.  Take a day of rest between workouts and you’ll be stronger, fitter, and happier than ever!